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Classes start today at Penn State, with a new buzz on campus

Written by
Ben Allen and Radio Pennsylvania
|
Jan 13, 2014 4:48 AM

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(State College) -- Spring semester classes begin today at Penn State, and the talk among students in the dorms and classrooms is expected to center around the university's new football coach James Franklin.

Many in the community are already praising Franklin for hitting the ground running - he spoke to crowds at both a Lady Lions game and wrestling dual Sunday.

Despite early concern that a new coach could mean some recruits changing their committment, at least one four star recruit - quarterback Michael O'Connor - is enrolling early in the school.

"We are going to dominate the state. We are going to dominate the state. We are going to dominate the region. I worked at a lot of different institutions that tried to compete in recruiting against Penn State, and it was always an unbelievable challenge," said Coach Franklin in his introductory press conference Saturday.

Franklin's contract starts at $4 million this year, eventually climbing to 4 and a half million in 2019.

He will also earn $300,000 bonuses for nearly every year he stays at the school, with the last bonus in 2019 for $750,000.